In what year did Kate Spade found her brand?

Kate Spade founded her brand in 1993. In January of that year, Kate and Andy Spade launched Kate Spade New York with Elyce Arons and Pamela Bell.

The business grew from Spade’s experience as an accessories editor at Mademoiselle. She felt the market lacked stylish, practical handbags that were sophisticated without being overly formal, so she began developing her own designs. The first collection focused on handbags with clean shapes and useful construction.

Some accounts distinguish between the company’s founding, the debut of its first handbags, and the opening of its first boutique. Those milestones happened at different points, but 1993 is the canonical founding year. The brand later expanded beyond handbags into clothing, shoes, jewelry, stationery, eyewear, fragrances, and home products, becoming a broader lifestyle label.